The Work of WHOin the South-East Asia Region

Member countries made steady progress in health development

Health development

WHO focused on country capacity building

Communicable Diseases

Global targets for case detection and treatment success achieved

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis

85% treatment success70% case detection

Tuberculosis / HIV

1.3 million people suffered from co-infection of TB and HIV

Tuberculosis / HIV

Management of multidrug resistant TB and TB / HIVco-infection improved

Leprosy prevalence declined

Leprosy

Post-elimination strategy developed and its implementation promoted

Leprosy

Filariasis

The Region accounted for 82% of the global Mass Drug Administration (MDA)

Filariasis

Sri Lanka achieved Lymphatic Filariasis elimination

Diagnosis, treatment & case management improved

Kala-azar

Collaboration among affected countries strengthened

Diarrhoeal & Respiratory diseases

Responsible for 48% of 3 million under-5 deaths annually

Dengue and Chikungunya

Continued as major public health problems

Dengue and Chikungunya

Situation worsened as a consequence of climate change

Avian Influenza

42% of global human cases reported in the Region

Avian Influenza

High level task forces and coordinating bodies on Avian Influenza control formed

Avian Influenza

7 countries had national influenza centres linked to global network

Avian Influenza

South-East Asia / Western Pacific Biregional Influenza Laboratory Network established

HIV / AIDS

3.6 million HIV infections in the Region

HIV / AIDS

US$ 1 billion mobilized from Global Fund for the Region

International Health Regulations

Intensified actions taken to build country core capacity

Public Health Emergencies

More than 2 000 health workers trained

Influenza Pandemic Preparedness

Table-top exercises conducted

Polio eradication

Polio eradication is an unfinished agenda in the Region

Measles

Measles continued to decline

Measles

Lab network expanded

Vaccine development

Manufacturers identified for seasonal influenza vaccine

Noncommunicable diseases

44% of the total disease burden54% of the total deaths in our Region

Noncommunicable diseases

Integrated prevention and control strategy is being developed

Tobacco control

Tobacco kills more than a million people annually in South-East Asia

Several tobacco surveys conducted

Tobacco control

Regional strategy prepared for evidence-based tobacco control programme

Mental health

Village-based workers trained for mental health work

Mental health

Mental health promotion as a part of general health promotion strategy encouraged

Family and Community health

Member countries on track to achieve MDG to reduce under-5 mortality

Maternal mortality

MDG relating to maternal mortality reduction difficult to achieveMore operation-based research is needed

Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI)

IMCI expanded and contributed to reducing child mortality

Maternal & Child Health

Human resource development for maternal and newborn care accelerated

Maternal & Child Health

Essential newborn and postnatal care integrated into primary health care

Reproductive health

Guidelines on preventing and managing reproductive tract infections pilot-tested

Reproductive health

Attempts made to eliminate congenital syphilis

Adolescent health

Efforts continued to increase sensitivity to their health needs

Adolescent health

National standards for quality services promoted

Sustainable Development and Healthy Environments

Access to safe water supply increased

Water safety

Water safety plans reviewed and updated

Sanitation

900 million people lack access to proper sanitation

Sanitation

Ecology-based approach to sanitation conceived and pilot-tested

Natural disasters

More than half of global deaths due to natural disasters occur in the Region

Natural disasters

Floods and cyclones killed tens of thousands and affected millions last year

Natural disasters

South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF) established and functional

Natural disasters

SEARHEF released within hours following cyclone Nargis in Myanmar

Natural disasters

Funds used for relief operations after floods in Sri Lanka

Food safety

Surveillance in the Region was weak

Public awareness of food hygiene was limited

Food safety

Countries improved regulations to ensure food safety

Enforcement of food safety standards was more effective

Climate change is a formidable challenge with long-term health implications

Climate change

Regional framework for action to protect human health from climate change prepared

Climate change

Health Systems Development

HSD challenges

Development of human resources for health is the main challenge

Public health education

Education programmes developed to support disease prevention and control strategies

Public health workforce development continued

Public health education

Intercountry cooperation promoted through South-East Asia Public Health Education Institutions Network

Task Force formed on Avian Influenza research

Health research

Social and behavioural research in AI control launched in Indonesia

Health research

Regional meeting on The Role of Education in Rational Use of Medicines held

Essential medicines

Information management

Generic format and guidelines for data collection and management disseminated

Regional repository of WHO information made available onlineRegional repository of WHO information made available online

Information management

Workforce development

Regional meeting on community-based health workers and volunteers held

Resource mobilization

183 agreements concluded with 45 donors and partners

Resource mobilization

33% increase in voluntary contributions over the planned target

Global Management System (GSM)

SEARO and WRO staff participating in GSM workshops

GSM to be functional in the Region by 2009

Programme budget

More than 70% of expenditure during the past biennium was funded from voluntary contributions

Country Collaboration

Country focus and country-specific approach strengthened

Country Collaboration

Efforts scaled up to strengthen country capacity for sustainable health development

Country Collaboration

Coordination with other stakeholders to be further strengthened

Country Collaboration

Collaboration with health ministries will be further enhanced